Commentaire de citation sur Les Nombres 34:3

[We traversed] its entire southern rim. One should not say that they circled Mount Seir on all four sides, and this is not possible. For otherwise Moshe would have entered the Land of Israel, because the land of Edom is on the border of the Land of Israel, as explained in the demarcation of the Land’s borders (Bamidbar 34:3). Therefore, Rashi explains: Only its entire southern rim, until the land of Moav (Maharan).

מול סוף, the Sea of Reeds begins somewhere to the east of the land of Israel as we know from Exodus 23,31 where it is described as bordering the land of the Philistines, the eastern border being the Dead Sea, described as south-east in Numbers 34,3. We have a repetition of these data in Deuteronomy 4,49, where it is clear that what is called ים סוף is the Sea of Reeds facing the Aravah of Moav.

From the end of the Salt (Dead) Sea. Referring to the southeastern corner of Eretz Yisroel as stated in Parshas אֵלֶה מַסְעֵי²See Bamidbar 34:12.

From the wilderness and this Lebanon. The wilderness refers to the wilderness of Kodeish, the wilderness of Tzin, which was adjacient to Edom which was to the south east, the direction from which they entered the land, as it is said: And behold we are in Kodeish.¹¹Bamidbar 20:16. How do we know that it was southeast? It is said: ‘Your southern flank will be from the Tzin wilderness along Edom.’¹²Bamidbar 34:3.

And dry - And it would dry, but as for piercing a hole they are not concerned as it would be noticeable. The word Shesum is defined (in the expression) Shesum Ho-ayin (Numbers 34:3 describing Billam) an open eye that has good vision.

in the south? Edom is in the south of Eretz Israel, as it is stated. “And your south side shall be from the desert of Zin close by the side of Edom” (Num. 34:3).

to the brook of Egypt which is opposite it, as is delineated in אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי (ibid. verse 5).

ורוח הקדים THE EAST WIND — It was an east wind that brought the locusts because that came (blew) from the direction opposite to it (to Egypt), since Egypt was in the south-west, relative to Palestine, as it is explained in another place (Numbers 34:3).